The ghosts of the Science trench

by Vasileios Gkinis, Center for Ice and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Climate scientists processing ice core samples in the EastGRIP science trench 10 m under the surface of the Greenland ice cap. The new trenches of the EastGRIP ice core camp require minimum building materials utilising giant inflatable balloons that are dug in and covered with snow. The latter is left to sinter for a few days, thereafter leaving back an arch-shaped underground trench ideal for ice core processing activities.